ZEC to Maintain High Nomination Fees for 2023 Elections
Presidential nomination fees are USD2,000 whiles MP and Council nomminees pay USD100
ZEC to maintain the high nomination fees for the elections this year. Ziyambi Ziyambi said the fees will not be reduced and told opposition parties to “stop wasting their time” complaining.
He said the high fees were a closed chapter because they were approved by the “majority” of Members of Parliament (MPs).
The ruling Zanu PF party has 179 MPs in the 270-member chamber, about two-thirds majority. Ziyambi was responding to Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Citizens Coalition for Change) in Parliament in relation to the high nomination fees.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in August last year increased nomination fees for presidential candidates from US$1 000 to US$20 000 per candidate.
In an Extraordinary Gazette, ZEC also increased nomination fees for aspiring MPs from US$50 to US$100. Candidates eyeing Senate and council seats will be expected to fork out US$100. Ziyambi said opposition members were supposed to protest against the statutory instrument last year when it was published.
“Statutory instruments (SIs) are passed by this august House, people here, of which the honourable member is part of people who passed those SIs.
He is now asking me because of his own preferences, not the majority here, that I should do something. The answer is no.
“It is surprising that we are approaching the end of a five-year term and honourable members are asking questions after the fact.
